The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-02-04
HOW GLEN COMMITTED SUI
eide.

CllEs
What's the matterp What's the
matter. my boyp Sit down. Sit down.
Sit down and quiet yourself and then
tell me what's the matter"
That's tho way l talked to Glenn
short for Observation-Disclosures as I took
him by tho arm n day when he rushed
wild eyed and thick speechcd into my
Office, and seated him on the lounge.
i Doc" he said in n helpless tone
my profession is that of a physician
I'm crazy. l can't collect my thoughts,
and the pain in my head drives me
mad"
Il know it," l said. 1--WE told you it
would be so many times. You have II
buzzing in the ears. black spectres float
ing before the eyes. and
'fYes. Yes! that's it. Nervous
witches OF the muscles Of the face and
numbncss of the limbs and"
Depression Of mind and melan-
csolia,h | went on.
"A disposition TO suicide" he almost
shouted. Il feel il almost necessary to
commit suicide. Doc. what'll | do?
How'll / stop itP Eth? How'll l keep
from blowing out my b%rainsp'
.,Nonsense!' | said. angrily. Don't
ss.lk to me about brains. If you go on
INC way you're going now You won
lave anv bvains to blow out in a few
laws. You'll be in the lunatic asylum,
KS srainloss rs a born IDIOT"
~ know it! | know IT. and Glenn
srung his hands wildly and %cndeavorcd
10 spring from the lounge. but forced
I'm back into his seat.
s.And SO I am determined 10 put an
end TO my life ut ouce. God bless you!
Good-by! | can't endure this agony any
longer" and once more he made an
effort TO rise.
..Sit still!' l Numbered out, now al
most angry myself, "or I'll send for the
police, and have you committed to the
Charities and Corrections, to be exam
incd as q lunatic. Now, do YOU really
want to be cured of this attack of tee
zeewcezeos you've gotp"
Yes" he said, a little more calmly,
finding he had a superior power to con
tend with.
Very we'll, then, give up all book
work. Lay aside pens, ink and paper,
90 into the country, fish, walk into thu
woods, feed the chickens, do anything
but don't rcad anything but trash fol
two months, and, above all, don't think
Of anything scientific until next winter
without my permission"
s.But what's to become of my paper
on The Origin of the M%egatheriump
Pm to read it before the Fe Fl Fo Fun
Society on the 10Th of next month, you
know, and it isn't half done yet"
"C~onfound your mcgatheriums!'
exclaimed, angrily. Ii you want t.
barter your life, or what you have left o
your senses, for a megatherium, why
take your mcgntheriums and 10 it, bu
don't come bothcring me about YOU
symptoms. tell you that you mus
have a complete mental and physical
diversion or you'll be n lunatic or q
dead man in q month"
And drop my book on The Puerility
Of Prehistoric Power?' said Glenn,
m~ournfully.
drop every book, written and un'
written. and write not u line but an oc
casional letter until tell you that yor
may"
The poor fellow buried his face in hi,
hands and sat the picture of despair, buI
l knew i was right. Glenn had gradu
ated from college with high honors anC
gone to the bar with high hopes, when
suddenly his mind, had, somehow, be
come diverted TO science, in which. nm
fortunately, he could afford to indulge
from the fact that he possessed q sinai
but comfortable income. left him by hi,
grandmother. SO that law could bt
Snade only an ornamental part of hi.
life.
More than this, he was n remarkabl,
handsome fellow, and, outside of hi:
scientific studies. possessed more thar
ordinary common sense. The fact was
hc had 0yerConc the matter, and ht
was suffering. accordingly, from in
somnia and over brain work. Entire
and complete cessation from study was
his only hope. Just as / had told him
this there came q gentle tap at my door
and to my summons Of it Come" il
opened and two ladies entcred-onc.
Miss Martha Megrims, an old maid Of
sixty-fivc, my patient, with nothing a
all the matter with her but the want oa
exercise and employment, and who
would not wait for me to call on her
but hunted me down with her moan,
and troubles daily. Her companion
was her niece Lillian. and .'airy, fairy
Lillian" she was. A moro beautiful lit
tie creature | never saw. and never ex
pect to sec again. and rs good rs sh'
was pretty.
Their coming just then embarrassed
me exceedingly. l could not dismiss
Miss Mcgrims. and must bear will
her usual half hour OF groans ant
grunts, for which l was so well remun
Grated, and. ut the same time, l did no
dare to let Glenn GO. for l knew he wa
in q dangerous condition Of mind, ant
/ was afraid that he might carry out hi
threat. Introducing him aud bringing
him into our conference was out OF thu
question. and thore was but n way TO
il. which was to stuff HIM into my littl'
back room, from whence there was M
escape but by a skylight or the doc
which led into the Office.